Special Devices, Incorporated

Trw Limited

Andrew G Bonas

Vahan Avetisian

Eishi Kajita

Todd Rosin

Abrar A Tirmizi

Mitchell P Zakula

Michael F Daly

Keith W Caruso

A circuit breaker including a pyrotechnic element configured to ablate or cut a portion of the circuit so as to break the circuit, thereby breaking the circuit. The portion of the circuit to be broken may be specially formed to be readily ablated or cut, and/or may be a current load-based fuse.

Pyrotechnic circuit breaker

A pyrotechnic initiator having an internal sleeve that facilitates the loading and durable retention of a pyrotechnic charge in place on the header surface within the initiator. The sleeve beneficially retains the charge either in conjunction with the upper interior surface of the charge can, or through the use of a monolithic charge and a narrowed top end of the sleeve.

Initiator with an internal sleeve retaining a pyrotechnic charge and methods of making same

The present invention resides in an improved inflator for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint (12) such as an air bag. The inflator has an igniter (40). The igniter (40) comprises a container (130) which contains an ignitable particulate output charge (152). The particulate output charge (152) is retained within the container and occupies only a portion of the container. The container (130) thus has a free volume (154) equal to about 25% to about 75% of the volume of the container. The output charge (152) has a burn time in the range of 5-100 milliseconds. The container has at least one orifice means (136) closed by a rupturable disk (138). The orifice means (136) has an orifice area which is sized to contain the output charge (152) within the container (130) until at least a substantial portion of the output charge ignites. This provides a low brisance ignition.

Igniter for an air bag inflator

Growing community of inventors

Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Andrew G Bonas